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Loading... Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes (original 1942; edition 1999)by Edith Hamilton
Work InformationMythology by Edith Hamilton (1942)
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Sign up for LibraryThing to find out whether you'll like this book. No current Talk conversations about this book. LOC data cited is for Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers, 2017 [©1942] SUMMARY: Monsters, mortals, gods, and warriors: For over sixty years readers have chosen this book above all others to discover the thrilling, enchanting, and fascinating world of Western mythology. From Odysseus's adventure-filled journey to the Norse god Odin's effort to postpone the final day of doom, Edith Hamilton's classic collection not only retells these stories with brilliant clarity but shows us how the ancients saw their own place in the world and how their themes echo in our consciousness today. An essential part of every home library, Mythology is the definitive volume for anyone who wants to know the key dramas, the primary characters, the triumphs, failures, fears, and hopes first narrated thousands of years ago-and still spellbinding to this day. CONTENTS: Introduction to classical mythology -- Gods, the creation, and the earliest heroes -- Stories of love and adventure -- Great heroes before the Trojan War -- Heroes of the Trojan War -- Great families of mythology -- Less important myths -- Mythology of the Norsemen -- Genealogical tables. Source: LOC As an avid reader, I wanted a resource that would give me enough information about Greek and Roman mythology that I could encounter most references in other literature without having to Google them. As a writer, I wanted something that would show me which myths connect to my own creative essence. This book provided me with both. Hamilton's summaries are both interesting and easily approachable, even for someone with minimal knowledge of mythology. While I wouldn't use this as my only source for mythological knowledge, it's a good jutting off point. Nevertheless, I did have a few qualms. Firstly, there are no actual citations in this work. Secondly, Hamilton too frequently disrupts the flow of her narration by including her personal judgments of the original writers or the content. Lastly, the section on Norse mythology seemed like a forced, poorly handled add on. Despite this, I still really enjoyed this work. no reviews | add a review
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Monsters, mortals, gods, and warriors: For over sixty years readers have chosen this book above all others to discover the thrilling, enchanting, and fascinating world of Western mythology. From Odysseus's adventure-filled journey to the Norse god Odin's effort to postpone the final day of doom, Edith Hamilton's classic collection not only retells these stories with brilliant clarity but shows us how the ancients saw their own place in the world and how their themes echo in our consciousness today. An essential part of every home library, Mythology is the definitive volume for anyone who wants to know the key dramas, the primary characters, the triumphs, failures, fears, and hopes first narrated thousands of years ago-and still spellbinding to this day. No library descriptions found.
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Google Books — Loading... GenresMelvil Decimal System (DDC)292.13Religion Other religions Classical religion (Greek and Roman religion) Mythologies Mythology--Greek religionLC ClassificationRatingAverage:
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Not too oft we can see especially in Norse myth where Odin traded his eye for the arete of wisdom and so much other folklore that perhaps is unreal BUT HOW THE UNREAL seems to always have the ripe fruit of otherworldly wisdom ( )